Contributing Back to the System

We like to think we're special or first, that we live in important times. No one wants to think they're ordinary, living in a boring time period.

But maybe this period really is special. Perhaps for the first time in human history, the common person possesses a skillset incongruent with the world they inhabit. Put another way, most people don't have the skillset to produce all the perks they enjoy on a daily basis. I don't know how a cell phone works—do you? AI and machine learning enable a complex economy and supply chain of which I have no idea how to build or operate. We show up to a grocery store, and food is there. We click a button on a website, and supplies arrive at our front doorstep the next day.

What does this mean? Do we have some responsibility to contribute back for this free ride we are getting?

Looking up Broadway Street in Nashville, Tennessee - May 2022

In ancient times, every human needed specific skills to survive. If a man couldn't hunt or protect the tribe from danger, he was no use to the tribe, and thus probably reassigned to something else in order to contribute. He may even have been banished, which was as good as a death sentence. Either way, he likely didn't reproduce much. It was the strong and competent who passed on their genes. This went on for thousands of years—think about it: we are the progeny of the survivors, the ones who solved problems and survived disasters. We are the inheritors of the most talented and capable humans.

Today, I benefit from technology of which I understand very little. I use my cell phone daily, and I could not tell you the basics of how it works. Advanced technology powers our financial and economic systems—I pay for everything with a credit card for instance—and I do not fully understand how it all works. When something ails me, I visit the doctor, who can diagnose and break down whatever health issue I'm facing and prescribe a treatment that can alleviate it. I don't understand the nuances of how any of that works. But I benefit from it. I live a fuller, healthier, more fulfilling and enjoyable life because of the work that so many have done. Do I deserve it?

Was I not simply born in the right place at the right time? I don't mean to imbibe guilt; we should be able to freely enjoy the perks of living in 2025 without shame. But we should recognize how good our lot in life is. We benefit from modern miracles all around us. Our lives are easier today than they would have been 10, 50, 100, 1,000 years ago. What do we give in return?

Charming Little Havana in Miami, built by a strong community - June 2022

We benefit from the system. It's our responsibility to give back to it, in some way, depending on our unique circumstances. It can be directly through our jobs—custodians literally clean up our community areas, after all. Some people work as electrical engineers or teachers or software developers or construction workers and literally build the system. It could be through any activity outside of our work—volunteering, donating money, raising awareness about causes. But it feels fair to give something, in some way.

We are part of a system, part of a global community, and we benefit from being a part of that system. We are the system. It's only fair to add to it, to help try to make it better for everyone else, and for those who come after us. After all, it feels good to be a part of something. It feels good to improve, to win. We can feel these things when we buy into global consciousness. When we work towards uniting humanity. When we inspire change in others. When we truly believe that we can change the world.

Walking Thoughts

I took a walk during my lunch break today to clear my head a little bit. It didn’t work out so well.

As I was walking I realized a few things.

I walked by a Neighborhood Watch sign, one of those typical ones that reads “we report all suspicious persons to our police department immediately.” It’s obviously there to deter any criminal activity. But when I saw it I thought, “What if I had black or brown skin? Would I be reported?” I’m a big guy, and I was walking around the neighborhood by myself, taking in all the scenery of the houses and the (relatively) clear weather. I could easily be misconstrued as casing houses. How much more likely would that be if I didn’t have white skin? The point is, the Black Lives Matter movement affects me, even now, even though I’m white.

As I mentioned, I was enjoying the “relatively” clear weather. I was able to walk today because the smoke from the fires all over the surrounding Bay Area was not hovering over my neighborhood. Yesterday I wasn’t able to walk outside because it was too smokey. We’re experiencing more fires, more hurricanes, more extreme weather events globally because of climate change. So even though such a large, slow global phenomenon doesn’t appear to affect me on a daily basis, it does. I am affected, in whatever relatively small way.

And then I reflected on what I was discussing with my coworkers—how Covid is affecting our customers. I might be one of the lucky ones that has a job and can work remotely, but there are so many others that it has impacted more severely; it’s upended their lives. The coronavirus and the ensuing economic catastrophe has affected even me, one of the lucky ones, in the small way that it changes how my company and industry does business. It made it difficult to get my current job.

Like I said, I wasn’t successful in clearing my head on my walk, because these sort of thoughts kept crossing my mind. Climate change matters. Black Lives Matter. Covid is real, and people are suffering from it directly and from the economic fallout. These big issues that get talked about in the news are real. It is my responsibility, just as much as someone more severely affected by these crises, to do my part to help solve these issues.

I know we can do it. We can change the world. We can ensure it stays one world, a beautiful world, an amazing world, but it requires us to act on our responsibilities as global citizens. Be a part of the solution.

First Things First Humanity

I’ve never been really adept at putting the first things first. One of Stephen Covey’s 7 habits of highly successful people, this maxim is condensed in my partner’s kindergarten classroom to “work first, then play.” Growing up I was fortunate to be able to play sports, so I was always a relatively busy kid. Homework didn’t get started until after dinner most nights. In college I procrastinated on papers so badly that sometimes I would begin them the morning they were due, whipping them out in an hour or so. And yet here I am, blogging before 6am. There’s a lot of content explaining procrastination, how it works and why it’s so powerful, so I won’t go into it here. But what I can say is that whenever you somehow make the switch of doing the important tasks first, when you are able to carve out time early in your day for deep work, when you “eat the frog” first thing in the morning, it really does change how you feel the rest of the day. You carry a sense of accomplishment with you, because you’ve tackled your greatest challenge, and you are more relaxed and less stressed, enabling you to enjoy the day.

I think about these truths as they pertain to a societal level. What are the “first things” for our species? What are our frogs, our big hairy audacious goals? What are the things we as a global community do not seem to want to do? Perhaps it’s our reluctance to combat climate change because of the economic costs and political forces that be. Maybe it’s ensuring every human lives a free life and has access to quality education. Possibly it’s reckoning with technology’s impact on the dissemination of information and its subsequent consequences. The point is, do we even consider these things? Are these concepts too grand, too far out of reach for us ordinary citizens? My counter: yes, let’s leave it up to those in power, because that’s worked so well over the course of our civilization. We have the capability now for the first time in the history of our species to work together globally to solve our greatest problems. We live in an opportunistic time. What will we do with this advantage?  Will we continue to procrastinate? Or will we enjoy the empowerment from accomplishment, and relish the knowledge our children will live better lives? We really do have a choice here, and each of us has the ability to decide. It all starts with awareness, and putting first things first.

Thank you Teachers

Dear Teachers,

You are facing difficult times. With the continued spread of the coronavirus across the United States, schools are placed in a precarious position. Many of you are not allowed a choice and are being forced to return to the classroom, despite the risks of contracting SARS-CoV-2. Many more of you are staying home, trying to figure out how you will teach your children remotely. From a childless adult who wants to see a better world, thank you—all of you.

Teachers might perform the most important role in modern society. They are tasked with educating the upcoming generation, ensuring they think, behave, and produce in benefit to society. They not only instruct students in accumulating new and vital knowledge, they teach their students how to think, how to learn. Young children are taught how to treat people. Teachers champion our civilization’s values: things like truth, fairness, respect, earnest, reason, responsibility, and grit. Teachers do this for “their" children each and every year; not those they have birthed, but those they nonetheless nurture and love.

And now this year, you are trying to fulfill this most honorable of duties while wearing masks or teaching through a screen. You are showing children how to make the sounds of different letter combinations while distancing from them. You are teaching students how to solve problems while combating ones none of us have ever faced. You are preparing online curriculum outside your working hours, preparing materials out of your own budget to be sent home to families, and preparing to use programs and software not designed for this learning environment.

Some parents might not like the decision of their respective school district. They might not appreciate the hardships you face. No doubt, this is a tough situation. But when the dust settles, it will be evident that you rose to the occasion, as you always do. You will selflessly pour your energy and passion and soul into this year’s students, just like every other year. For your service, thank you. Thank you for making our communities stronger. Thank you for making our children better people. This year will be difficult and full of uncertainty and unknown, but you will still serve. “Easy” isn’t the reason you signed up for this job anyway. Teachers, thank you.

Sincerely,

A grateful citizen

Dreamers Change the World

I won’t stop dreaming. It wrecks me, and I get upset at dinners and deep conversations with loved ones and strangers alike, but I won’t stop. I won’t stop hoping, on insisting, for a better world. Because it’s in our grasp. It’s in our power, it’s within our ability. We only need to reject the status quo as normal, as okay, as satisfactory. It is not. There is always better on the horizon. It takes thought and effort and even suffering. What of it? Are those not inevitable through the course of life? Is not striving towards something greater than one’s self the greatest endeavor one can experience? Challenge me. We have work to do. Will you get your hands dirty? Will you pitch in? If not, watch the rest of us take up your slack without judgement or complaint. Watch us sculpt the future through principle and earnest, with or without you. When you take up the space next to us, you will experience the better future. We can change the world. 

The Ultimate Investment

Seeing the education debate play out firsthand causes anxiety. My partner is an elementary school teacher, and through all this debate I’ve been worried about her. I don’t want her to contract the virus. I also believe education is the most important thing in the world. Education, broadly construed, will solve our most existential crisis, climate change. Education will eliminate nuclear and all other forms of war, and will promote peace and prosperity. Education will solve our species’ inequity. Education is the answer, but it’s a delayed investment. If we can see that, we will be just fine. Our effort and focus must sustain, but we can be confident in our convictions, with education. Education enables our progeny to conquer the inevitable problems of the future. Through education, we can change the world—and the fate of life on Earth. 

Species Priorities

If someone asked you to rank our species’ priorities, what would you reply?

There’s definitely a lot going on right now. I would hope the top of your list would include climate change, the coronavirus, education, and healthcare.

The continuous learning revolution is near upon us, and hopefully that will result in intelligent consideration of our institutions’ perpetuation of inequality. But the real sleeper is climate change, one I haven’t written about in some time.

If we all consider our collective challenges on a broader level, perhaps we can make more effective headway.

We’re all here on this rock together. Let’s appreciate the progress we’ve made and go after our biggest problems. We can solve them, together. We can change the world. 

The Nature of Progress

Progress is often slow, messy, and costly. It requires tremendous effort and resolve. But it’s worth it. It matters that we live lives our great-grand parents could only dream of; that a poor person in the first world enjoys better living conditions than bygone kings and emperors of the past. We will never reach an acceptable status quo, because there will always be more progress to be made and more problems to solve. But just because the horizon is unreachable doesn’t mean we shouldn’t push to get there. If it means a better life for our children and our children’s children, is it worth it? Will you accept the nature of progress and still fight for it?

Both Ways

It’s incredible how far we have to go. There are a lot of things to fix. Yet at the same time, life is amazing. There is so much to be grateful for. Can you grip both? Can you be a part of the solution

Knowledge and Kindness

Reflecting on the current polarized political environment, the harsh economic market, and the hostile social landscape, I think about the human condition. Reality is as real to everyone else as it is to each one of us. Others feel the same degree of pain, consternation, joy, and love. In some ways we are in a battle of knowledge—“that one’s opinions should be based on justified true beliefs”—but we also must remember we are emotional, often irrational beings. We sometimes, even often, make bad decisions. That’s okay. In these truly unprecedented times, it’s important to be open, to open up to possibilities, to others, to the universe. Be kind. We will work through all of this, and our children will have a better life experience for it. Let’s persevere onwards toward a better world for all, but let’s do so with some grace. 

Intention Lesson

Meanwhile the coronavirus rages on. I saw an article from The Onion derailing states’ reopening plans—to basically wish the virus away. It’s hard to say what to do, because we are still learning more every day. It is a ‘novel’ virus after all. But maybe beyond everything, it’s teaching us how to deal with multiple things at once. Disruption of our habitual routines, observing the real effects of governance, and taking a good look at the truth that is our current system. Have we caught our collective breath yet? Because it’s time for intention. 

Change On Mind

I’ve been thinking recently about 10 laws to enact for change. If you could make 10 new rules to change the current system, what would they be? I hope to do a post in the near future about mine.

With my mobility severely limited due to my ankle sprain, health care has been top of mind. Hearing the political rhetoric from the media and the 2 American political parties has election reform on my mind. My work experience and my travels have made me consider how we can transform education.

There is much to do, and the current protests illuminate that. I’ve praised the civic discourse and political action, but now, as the days turn to weeks, it’s important for us to focus on what needs to change, and discuss how we can change it. Important police reforms have been made, which is commendable because it provides direct evidence of the link between civil protests and policy change, and it also shows our political leadership’s willingness to listen to its constituents and move the systemic levers to create change (at least on the local and state levels, thus far).

I’ve asked this question before: what kind of world do we want? We’ve made so much progress, both over the centuries and in recent weeks, with answering that question. That’s an important part, albeit only the first. Our next step is to identify what specific amendments will move our system towards the change we want to see. I don’t think we’re done with the first part yet, but it’s critical to keep the second in mind. What world do we want... but also... what specifically will make turn that vision into reality?

Caring about the Future

I’ve talked to several people who have confessed breaking down emotionally about what’s going on within the United States. People care, they really do. We just need to infiltrate our institutions. There’s a lot of weight and history behind these systems, so it’s hard. But it’s not impossible, or even far fetched. It just requires mass numbers, mobilization, and organization. How hard is that? During a pandemic? With divisive leadership? Well, we’re showing it’s possible, that it’s happening, that it’s resulting in real change. People do care, and they’re effecting change, by the tens of thousands. Life isn’t picture perfect. But we’re getting it done. The world is ours to change. 

Inside Look at the Front

Today was my first look inside a hospital since the coronavirus has started. Employees are taking the necessary precautions. I was told there were hardly any people coming into the ER, until today, the day I showed up (I sprained my ankle playing basketball). Lucky me. 

However, it’s been humbling to see our front lines workers in action. They’re working hard, and on top of that they are kind and sympathetic to their patients. The coronavirus is still here. And these people are still working to save us. 

After being up in the mountains for the weekend, away from all the hustle and bustle, being back and visiting the hospital has reinforced the continued importance of taking the necessary actions to keep everyone safe. If social distancing, despite its inconvenience, saves only one other life in your community, it’s worth it. 

Sustainable, not Instantaneous

I don’t consume any news until noon each day—you need some time and space for yourself, ya know? You can’t just be deep in everything constantly, it’s stressful and unhealthy.

But looking through Twitter and Facebook today, it really seems like we are turning a corner with the ongoing civil action. I’ve seen so many videos of peaceful protesting, of police officers joining citizens in solidarity against police brutality, of protestors preventing the looting of stores and talking down violence-inclined supporters. We are making progress.

It serves as a reminder that things don’t happen instantly. A week ago, there was this great debate about the nature of the protests, because of the rioting and looting. From my perspective, it looks like that debate is no longer necessary. That’s because more time has passed. The opportunists and harbingers of destruction are few and far between. They always were, but as the protests have become more normalized and organized, it has become all the more obvious. Things take time.

Criminal Justice reform will take time. Laws will not be passed immediately—they need to be drafted and critically discussed and voted upon. Police training takes time to impart on officers. People’s way of thinking about systemic and institutionalized racism will change slowly. That’s why this movement needs to be sustained. I have every confidence it will be, because people are angry.

That anger is justified. Let’s channel it toward ensuring a better future for all of us. Let’s craft a future in which everyone is treated with respect and kindness. Let’s build a future in which Black Lives Matter.

Effecting Real Change

From the present vantage point, shelter-in-place seems kind of mundane and easy, doesn’t it? Most people appear to be accustomed to it now. How much of that is because we now understand our much more significant problems? How quickly we adapt and reset our expectations. We must remember that.

I see a lot of calls to make our voices heard at the polls—to vote for the change we want to see. That’s a good start, but effective democracy doesn’t work like that in reality. Just think about the low voter turnout rates in elections. Just think about the way most people vote (making their decisions on the spot at the polls), how unaware most people are about public policy. Ever seen one of those old Jay Leno clips where he asks basic civics questions to random passerby’s? It’s not pretty.

We can also look at previous examples of how “real change” was accomplished, as it is being advocated for in current rhetoric.

The American Revolution. Did the formation of the United States come about through voting? No, it came about through the Boston Tea Party and the treasonous Declaration of Independence, and eventually the fight for freedom. It came about through resistance.

The Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. Did Black Americans vote to end slavery? Was it voting that ended the war on slavery, or was it people’s refusal to accept it?

Women’s Suffrage. Did women get to vote to grant themselves the right to vote? Or did they petition and protest the injustice until the right was extended to them?

The Civil Rights Movement. Was it diligent voting that resulted in better treatment for African Americans? Or was it the boycotts, the protests, the marches? Was it the powerful words of the likes of MLK who appealed to peoples’ souls.

The Vietnam War. Did the politicians in Washington pull out of Vietnam because they fortuitously got up from the other side of the bed one morning? No, they were convinced by their constituents. Protests and peace rallies, marches and widespread condemnation forced the US government to listen and end the war.

How about the increased acceptance of LGBTQ+ people and their rights? Was it a groundbreaking voter turnout that changed peoples’ perceptions? No, it was the sustained effort of millions of people. Now people see them.

And what about now—the protests against racism, the call for justice reform—is this receiving attention because it got put on a ballot and many people voted for it?

Voting is a basic civic responsibility. But “real change” happens when large numbers of citizens take real action. When they use their bodies and their voices, not their pencils.

Real change happens when people act.

I will address the violence aspect another time, but for now, I think it’s suffice to say there is a narrative being pushed that we are divided. We are not. Millions of Americans, the vast majority of our populace, Black and White, police officers and citizens, want justice reform in this country. The looters, the anarchists, the white supremacists, they cower in insignificance compared to the masses of people who have demonstrated civil resistance the past week.

We are an ailing nation right now. But we are doing the right thing. We are doing what will bring about the change we all so desperately seek. We are taking action.

From 10,000 Feet

Let’s take a 10,000 foot view, shall we? There are some bad things going on. We’re all highly stressed out. People haven’t been working, haven’t been doing what they normally do, haven’t been leaving home. People are tired, and frustrated, and angry, and distraught, and overwhelmed, and saddened, and fed up.

We’re working some shit out.

It ain’t pretty. We can all see that, it’s on full display across the Internet.

And I don’t mean to condone anything that has occurred, “good,” or “bad.” I am not devaluing the suffering that has been experienced.

But from 10,000 feet, you start to see that change does not happen overnight after one protest. Or 4 protests, or 5. It takes continued effort, prolonged discussion; it takes time.

From 10,000 feet, it looks like we’re on the right track. This doesn’t mean we can relax. It doesn’t mean this will work itself out. It’s gonna take everything we got. But we’re getting there. We’re trying, in our own monkey way, to make the world better.

And we will. We’ll become better from this. Let’s keep that in mind as we work through our problems. Let’s remember that problems can be solved. Let’s go solve them.

Improving Numeracy

There's a lot going on in the world right now. The coronavirus is wrecking havoc on our communities across the globe, the economy is suffering in many places, especially the United States, it’s an election year in America, and leaders and activists are trying to ensure climate change action doesn’t get shelved to a later time.

It’s clear many Americans are unable or unwilling to interpret the data. Sheltering in place and wearing masks; these topics aren’t being discussed on a scientific basis. Part of what’s made it hard is the data in the US has become cloudy, with reporting metrics changing throughout this epidemic.

Humanity has made tremendous progress when it comes to literacy. As of a few years ago, 86% of the world’s population was literate, whereas only 200 years ago, that number was only at 12%. We still have much more work to do, but overall we are doing well at making sure every single person on the planet can read and write.

We still have much further to go when it comes to numeracy. Again, it’s apparent just by the online debates about the coronavirus or the economy or climate change. In order to solve these large, complicated problems, we must get better at conceptually understanding numbers and how to use them.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the increased focus on mathematical and logical reasoning skills in the American K-12 education environment, and these investments will pay off with the upcoming generation. But third graders don’t vote. Adults must get better at these skills (including myself at times). With the rising tide of continuous and online learning, especially the amount of free resources available, there is no excuse for any of us. There are dozens of platforms in which anyone can learn.

If we want to change the world, it’s going to take a lot of numbers. 

A Message to Graduates

This summer would have been my 10 year college reunion.

With the coronavirus still wrecking havoc on normal daily life, millions of students around the world are missing out on achieving closure from their high school or university. The televised special last night was an inspiring, beautiful gesture to those students. It has compelled me to add my own encouragement to the conversation.

Here’s what I would say to them.

You have just completed training from subject matter experts and now have the foundation to solve problems in the world and make a difference. The world needs problem solvers more than ever.

These are extraordinary times. We are facing 2 global crises: the coronavirus pandemic, and climate change. One is disrupting our modern world like nothing ever before, the other threatens to end our species and millions of others.

These realities can be scary. But, in a way, you are lucky. You have the chance to do more good for the world than any generation before.

You have the chance, for the first time in the history of our civilization, to ensure equal opportunity and treatment for all people, regardless of age, gender, nation, culture, race, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic.

You have the chance to apply what you’ve learned to make the world more efficient and sustainable. Never before have we had such powerful technology. You have the chance to ensure that technology is used for the good of the planet.

You have the chance to ensure future generations are born into a world better than what exists today.

Big events can define generations in a way. Your great grandparents were defined by how they endured through the Great Depression and rallied together in World War II. Your parents can be defined by how they ushered the world into a new age through technological advancement.

Notice how I worded those examples. The Great Depression and World War II and computers didn’t define your elders and ancestors. How they handled those events, how they responded to changing times, did.

You have the same opportunity with this epidemic and the climate change crisis. Not the events themselves, but how you respond to them, will define your generation. You have the opportunity to build a safer, healthier, more equal and more inclusive world. A kinder and more considerate world. A more prosperous and sustainable world. A peaceful and just world.

You have this chance. And it starts right now. What are you going to do with it?

Starting with You

Writing can be agony. But those pains often result in some of your best work. Likewise, we are experiencing agony across the planet right now with the coronavirus epidemic and the climate change crisis. But perhaps, one day, we will look back on these two catastrophes as a necessary turning point in our history. Maybe someday we will recognize 2020 as our awakening. Our civilization has grown and progressed in so many ways, yet we still have serious problems to address. Solving them will require a global consciousness never before seen—we must go from 0 to 1. We either come together as a species and institute changes, or we perish separately. If every human being thought deeply about this tonight, we would wake up to a different world tomorrow. A simpler, kinder, and more considerate tomorrow. We would understand that we are much more similar than we are different. We would understand our actions affect others. We would examine how we do things and wonder what society would be like if everyone did them that way. We would prioritize the health and prosperity of future generations above short term reward. We would unite as one species and strive toward the future with a sense of optimism, duty, and courage. We can accomplish such a future. We can change the world. It starts with you.